Mill City Museum

Reviews

• MG

  Michael Guynn

  Jun 28, 2026
  5.0
  What a fantastic little museum. It's a very specific subject, but integral to the history of Minneapolis. They start you off on a "Flour Tower", a freight elevator that takes you past reconstructed mill scenes. It's like the Disneyland of Wheat. Then, on the observation deck, you see that the main mill has burned down, and the current structure is a modern framework within the ruins. The juxtaposition is fascinating. The museum display floor isn't that big, but there is a lot of interesting history within. If you're interested in hyper specific historical topics, this is absolutely worth a visit.
• EE

  Ella

  Jun 22, 2026
  5.0
  Gives an amazing teacher discount!
• GG

  Greg

  Jun 21, 2026
  5.0
  Attended a very beautiful upscale wedding held at the Ruins here. Their elegant reception was held inside the Railyard . What an interesting venue and what a fantastic catering job for them. They can accommodate a lot of people here.
• BO

  Bill Ostrowski

  Jun 20, 2026
  4.0
  The history of milling in Minneapolis is interesting.
• GS

  Greg Squyres

  Jun 19, 2026
  5.0
  Flour put Minneapolis on the map. It was the primary catalyst that skyrocketed Minneapolis to global prominence, earning it the nickname "Mill City." Most of the mills are now gone, but the Mill City Museum tells the story of how flour mills "built" the city. The museum is located in the former Washburn A. Mill where the Gold Medal brand milled their flour. The mill shut down in 1965, and a fire in 1991 destroyed the building. But in the ruins the museum now stands to tell the story and explain the contribution of the mill to the city. The lower floor houses most of the exhibits. Many artifacts conjure up nostalgic memories, such as Pillsbury Doughboy knickknacks and Betty Crocker cookbooks. The machines that milled the grain are also featured, as well as many hands-on exhibits to teach children the mill's significance. A highlight of the trip for us was an elevator ride to the top of the building. The elevator is massive, and the ride stops several times to depict various scenes explaining what mill work was like. Included are testimonies from several former mill workers. When the elevator reached the top, we were treated to an awesome view of the Mississippi River, the historic Stone Arch Bridge, and the skyline of Minneapolis in the distance. We also received a bird's eye view of the foundation of the the former mill and the original exterior walls that survived the fire. We enjoyed the tour, finding it interesting and educational, and recommend it highly.